The Bad Boy Hero

Chapter 9

The cool lake was peaceful unlike my breathing that continued to take off, heart with it. I felt like everything had come crashing down, he was the only one to keep me going, knowing that I had him to come to school for, that he’d protect me without even knowing. A sob built in my throat until I collapsed at the edge of the lake hugging my legs and shivering at my devastating blubber that echoed across the water. There were running footsteps that I ignored as I continued to cry. I was so stupid. Of course he was no different to everyone else, I didn’t see passed the rose tinted glass. I wanted to believe he was different. An arm tucked around me and I fell into the stranger’s chest as my blubbering continued.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered “I’m so sorry,” he softly stroked my hair holding my tightly as I shook like I was about to fall apart on the outside as well as the inside. “It’s ok,” he murmured over and over. “You don’t need him;” he promised “I’m so sorry,”

“You knew?” I gasped for breath, the ball in my throat not letting me whisper like he was

Jasper pressed his forehead against mine calming me with his deep breaths “Yes, I’m sorry,” I looked to the lake still trying to catch my breath as tears drowned my cheeks. “I thought- I thought you needed to know,” he sighed “but you know how much I hate him so I didn’t think you would believe me. You needed to see for yourself.”

“It’s ok,” I promised, my words catching in my throat “I needed to know,” we were silent for a while longer before I sighed again “I’m such an idiot,”

“No you’re not,” he swore

“I am, I thought,” I took a deep breath scrubbing my eyes of tears “I thought he was different, I thought he actually cared about me,” I began crying again and Jasper held me tighter until my sobs calmed down again. He released me as I stood and edged closer to the lake. It was beautiful in the moonlight with the light pooling on the surface, when I saw my reflection I saw how pale I looked in the light apart from my red and blotchy eyes.

“Do you mind if I have a fag?” I could have laughed as I turned back to see pulling a cigarette from the packet along with a shinning Zippo lighter “I can’t deal with stressful situations without one,”

“Go for it,” a wheezy laugh escaped my lips and I saw him grin as he placed the cigarette between his lips lighting it swiftly. I sat back next to him tucking my legs to my chest again and just watching the water, when I turned to him puffing away I got curious “could I have one?” I sounded like a five year old asking him

Jasper looked to me before shaking his head he blew out a puff of smoke “No, it’s a disgustingly sexy habit and it wouldn’t suit you,” he took another drag then seemed to realise what he had said “You’re a different kind of sexy,” he told me in his matter of fact tone pointing the lit cigarette towards me

“Maybe that’s my problem.” I rubbed my eyes “I’m not sexy enough, Mattie was way too good for me,”

“Fuck that!” I gave him a look; he knew I didn’t like swearing “Sorry, fudge that! You know, I know, he knows, everybody knows that you were way too good for him!” he waved his armed around like a mad man almost growling as he raved “And if you’d let me I would go back to that stupid party and beat the living daylights out of the utter... penis head.” He finished, he opened his mouth to continue but I just laughed, feeling a weight fall off my chest as I did “Why are you laughing?” he grinned at me, just happy that I was laughing again “Annie I thought you were sad you can’t start laughing at me,” I fell back onto the grass sighing and still giggling slightly

“You’re right, he is a dick,” Jasper fell back as well

“He is,” Jasper agreed still smoking contently as we looked up at the stars

“Thank you,” I whispered “you’re right, I needed to know, I needed to wake up and realise he isn’t perfect, far from it.” After a moment I continued “And Kelli of all people,”

“Slag,” Jasper sang and we laughed “Why aren’t you sad? I thought you would be more devastated than this?”

I thought “Maybe I knew, I don’t know, I just knew he’d never be with me forever. I’m going to Uni next year. It’s for the best.”

“Please, that doesn’t make what he has done any better,”

“No,” I mused before sitting up again “I’m sorry I ruined your night,” Jasper followed suit stubbing out his cigarette and popping the butt end back into his cigarette packet, I noted this with a raised eyebrow before turning back to the lake.

“We both know that I’d prefer to be here than that place,”

“You’re missing Jade aren’t you,” I saw his face smile

“Let’s not talk about my sh-stuff Annie, cause we’ll be here all night,” he grinned making me smile too, although I couldn’t stop my eyes from leaking now I had started. “Do you need a lift home?”

“I’m staying at Tess’; well I’m staying at the hotel she’s staying at.” Jasper didn’t ask questions

“Fudge it, you can come crash at mine,” before I could argue he gave me a look “I have the room, don’t worry,” I looked back at the lake for a moment before nodding and getting to my feet “Whoa you’re not arguing with me!” Jasper laughed as he stood as well I gave him a look “Ok, ok no douche bag Jasper tonight,” he grinned which made me laugh a little. “My car isn’t park too far away; thank god you didn’t run in the opposite direction, you are a fast runner by the way, I thought I had lost you for a minute,”

“I do try,” I rolled my eyes at the comment as we found his car. I could hear to music pumping from the party a few streets away and actually thought about going back, punching Mattie in the face before leaving again.

“It would make you feel better,” Jasper promised with a grin on his face “But you’re not really one to make a scene. Or I could do it for you...” he gave me a mysterious smile “He wouldn’t know what hit him... literally,”

“No, Jasper, we need to be the better people,” he unlocked his car and I paused “Are you safe to drive?” I gave him a worried look

“Trust me Annie,” he winked before climbing in. I didn’t hesitate for long before climbing in as well.